From where I stand…

Tag Archives: country

“The Road goes ever on and onDown from the door where it began.Now far ahead the Road has gone,And I must follow, if I can,Pursuing it with eager feet,Until it joins some larger wayWhere many paths and errands meet.And whither then? I cannot say” ― J.R.R. Tolkien

A convenient five minute drive from my house is this little country oasis, which also happens to adjacent to the farm my mother in law grew up on. The the family was forced off the land many years ago when the property was expropriated for use as a future airport (which after forty years, has not happened, and hopefully won’t).

This beautiful country road is one of the few remaining in the area where maple trees lean over the road, making a tunnel of colour . I had visited two weeks ago and the trees were just starting to show colour. Then, I had to travel for a week on business. When I return this past weekend, some of the trees had already shed their leaves, but what remained was beautiful, nonetheless.

I’m believing this may be an abbreviated autumn, in terms of colourful leaves, we’ve already had several days of cool, wet weather, with strong winds, which has knocked a lot of the leaves down already. So, I drink it in while I can, make photos, when I can, and simply enjoy the season.

When the elements align, I recognise just how fortunate I am. I’ve also become prepared for many lighting situations which would have challenged me a few years ago. The tree pictured above is one of my favourites. As a “Solitaire”, which is what I now call these lone trees, this one is the one that I visit and photograph the most. Primarily because it’s close to home, and secondly, because the farmer tends to work his/her such that the furrows or plantings draw the eye naturally to the tree.

However, this particular ‘moment’ was breathtaking, and lasted mere minutes, as the setting sun shone across the field, bathing the tree in what I’ve begun to call ‘God-Light’. It highlights one particular item and makes it glow with life. I just happened to be driving home from a trip north to photograph the spring melt-waters at Burleigh Falls, hoping that this ‘solitaire’ of mine might be photo worthy. I was certainly not disappointed.